Marieta Hristova – 10 years of Dedication to the Patient

We sat down with Marieta Hristova, our Senior Research Coordinator & Training and Development Specialist at the Pratia Bulgaria Research site in Gabrovo. She is the first employee hired in the Team, which you have heard from our Country Head dr. Martin Kosturski. Marieta’s passion for Clinical Research programs makes Patients smile, and her knowledge empowers future generations of coordinators in Bulgaria. For Marieta – Women in Clinical Trials are the core, and we applaud this!

Define yourself in one word:

Marieta: Positive.

What is your mission in clinical trials: 

Marieta: Discover new treatment options.

In short, how would you describe your career in Clinical Trials. 

Marieta: Challenge.

How did you start your journey in clinical trials?

Marieta: 10 years ago, Dr. Martin Kosturski asked me to work as a coordinator at the center in Gabrovo. I had no idea what the job was about, but I accepted. We have been waiting for a long time for our first trial to start, and with it, we have learned many things related to conducting clinical trials. Perhaps this was a crucial factor in our current success.

What makes you happy to work in Clinical Research?

Marieta: Contact with Patients, Doctors, Colleagues, and the opportunity to be in the innovation and development of new medicine.

Imagine you are a superhero: what do you want to achieve by the end of the day with your work in clinical trials?

Marieta: I would like Patients to be satisfied with the care and treatment offered within our Research programs. Whereas, I would love for our colleagues and me to use the skills and knowledge to contribute to a smooth process of conducting Clinical Trials.

What would you say to your child starting to study? What advice would you give her?

Marieta: Do not give up!

What is your message to women thinking of starting a career in Clinical Trials?

Marieta: If you love dynamic and challenging work, this is the place to show off your abilities!

What is your mission in this position at Pratia?

Marieta: I want to share experiences with new colleagues and make them feel confident in the way they work. I can offer them extensive expertise in conducting Clinical Trials.

What is it essential to potentially take part in Clinical Trials? 

Marieta: To get the opportunity for a new treatment.

Why Clinical Trials are important as access to innovative care?

Marieta: Let me explain a bit the process first. Before assessing whether the Patient is suitable to receive a new test drug, many detailed tests are performed – laboratory and medical. A couple of years ago, we had a Patient included in a Multiple Sclerosis trial. During the screening period, she had to visit a center in a neighboring town to have an MRI with the latest generation of equipment, which we did not have. As a result of her examination, she was diagnosed with a brain tumor not visible on previous scanners. If she had not agreed to participate in the test, she would probably have found out about her condition too late. This story shows what kind of benefits may come from studies and procedures performed in Clinical Trials. Innovative therapies are the main advantage – in times when people have many chronic diseases, medicine seeks to improve the quality of life of these Patients.

Why is preventive medicine important in Clinical Trials? 

Marieta: Preventive medicine is the step forward we take to avoid a new disease for as long as possible.

There is a myth “Therapies in Clinical Trials are not safe and dangerous ” Could you explain how medicine is being tested?

Marieta: It is understandable, but we need Clinical Trials to certify the medicine. This is how the drug reaches more people – one contributes to the cure of another 100 (for example). 

Another myth: Nobody controls Doctors in Clinical Trials” Could you explain why this is not true? 

Marieta: The whole process of conducting a Clinical Trial is approved by national regulatory authorities – BDA, ECKI, and is subject to external audits (sponsorship, FDA). Everything we do is heavily regulated. 

At Pratia, we genuinely believe that Women in Clinical Trials play a vital role in the future of medicine. 

We promote gender equality and continue developing a work environment where we celebrate and encourage the talent and achievements of our colleagues. 

Let’s meet and combine forces, let’s develop Clinical Research together!